Police report released for Fort Myers child abduction, search for suspect ongoingSpring training kicks off as Boston Red Sox truck arrives in Fort Myers
Police report released for Fort Myers child abduction, search for suspect ongoing A mother chased down the man who kidnapped her toddler in Fort Myers. This dramatic event is part of the ongoing investigation into the Amber Alert issued earlier this week.
FORT MYERS Spring training kicks off as Boston Red Sox truck arrives in Fort Myers Baseball fans in Fort Myers are eagerly anticipating the arrival of the Boston Red Sox equipment truck.
the weather authority Warm and dry for your Thursday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a continuing warm stretch, as we can expect dry conditions along with plenty of sun this Thursday.
LABELLE 17-year-old arrested after deputies respond to gunshots at LaBelle Dollar General According to the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office, there is a large presence of law enforcement in the area of Cowboy Way and Collinswood Parkway in LaBelle.
GOLDEN GATE Golden Gate love triangle turns violent with screwdriver attack A screwdriver became the weapon of choice in a dramatic altercation between an ex-lover and a current partner in Golden Gate, leaving one man injured.
CHARLOTTE HARBOR Charlotte County’s Sunseeker Resort sale sparks community discussion Big changes could be on the horizon for the Sunseeker Resort in Charlotte Harbor; the company that owns the resort recently announced plans to sell it.
SANIBEL Sanibel residents alarmed by red tide’s impact on local beaches The Florida Department of Health has issued several red tide warnings in Southwest Florida recently. In Sanibel, red tide has taken over popular beaches, causing concern among residents and visitors.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers school hosts community leaders for World Read Aloud Day event Knowledge is power, and the community at James Stephens Elementary School in Fort Myers is sharing that power.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda limits lawn watering to once a week to conserve water The Punta Gorda City Council tackled a significant issue during their monthly public meeting on Wednesday morning: water usage.
NAPLES Collier County teen leads fight for dignity at Rosemary Cemetery A teenager in Collier County is pushing for change at the Rosemary Cemetery.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Most Wanted Wednesday: Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for February 5, 2025 Here are some of Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for February 5, 2025.
Lost ashes in Fort Myers: USPS employee speaks out A widow’s search for closure continues as her husband’s ashes remain lost in the mail. Stacie Claytor is still frustrated and desperate after the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) failed to deliver the package containing her husband Ron’s cremated remains a week ago. “I don’t know how, how you can lose somebody’s loved one and just […]
Cape Coral man faces Florida Supreme Court in 1990 murder appeal hearing Joseph Zieler, convicted of a brutal double murder in Cape Coral in 1990, faced his first mandatory appeals hearing on Wednesday before the Florida Supreme Court.
Gene therapy shows promise for bladder cancer patients A breakthrough in bladder cancer treatment is offering new hope to patients.
Gen Z face job challenges, managers hesitant to hire grads More than 17 million Gen Z’ers are transitioning from school to creating a career. However, stepping into a job right after college is proving difficult for some.
Police report released for Fort Myers child abduction, search for suspect ongoing A mother chased down the man who kidnapped her toddler in Fort Myers. This dramatic event is part of the ongoing investigation into the Amber Alert issued earlier this week.
FORT MYERS Spring training kicks off as Boston Red Sox truck arrives in Fort Myers Baseball fans in Fort Myers are eagerly anticipating the arrival of the Boston Red Sox equipment truck.
the weather authority Warm and dry for your Thursday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a continuing warm stretch, as we can expect dry conditions along with plenty of sun this Thursday.
LABELLE 17-year-old arrested after deputies respond to gunshots at LaBelle Dollar General According to the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office, there is a large presence of law enforcement in the area of Cowboy Way and Collinswood Parkway in LaBelle.
GOLDEN GATE Golden Gate love triangle turns violent with screwdriver attack A screwdriver became the weapon of choice in a dramatic altercation between an ex-lover and a current partner in Golden Gate, leaving one man injured.
CHARLOTTE HARBOR Charlotte County’s Sunseeker Resort sale sparks community discussion Big changes could be on the horizon for the Sunseeker Resort in Charlotte Harbor; the company that owns the resort recently announced plans to sell it.
SANIBEL Sanibel residents alarmed by red tide’s impact on local beaches The Florida Department of Health has issued several red tide warnings in Southwest Florida recently. In Sanibel, red tide has taken over popular beaches, causing concern among residents and visitors.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers school hosts community leaders for World Read Aloud Day event Knowledge is power, and the community at James Stephens Elementary School in Fort Myers is sharing that power.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda limits lawn watering to once a week to conserve water The Punta Gorda City Council tackled a significant issue during their monthly public meeting on Wednesday morning: water usage.
NAPLES Collier County teen leads fight for dignity at Rosemary Cemetery A teenager in Collier County is pushing for change at the Rosemary Cemetery.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Most Wanted Wednesday: Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for February 5, 2025 Here are some of Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for February 5, 2025.
Lost ashes in Fort Myers: USPS employee speaks out A widow’s search for closure continues as her husband’s ashes remain lost in the mail. Stacie Claytor is still frustrated and desperate after the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) failed to deliver the package containing her husband Ron’s cremated remains a week ago. “I don’t know how, how you can lose somebody’s loved one and just […]
Cape Coral man faces Florida Supreme Court in 1990 murder appeal hearing Joseph Zieler, convicted of a brutal double murder in Cape Coral in 1990, faced his first mandatory appeals hearing on Wednesday before the Florida Supreme Court.
Gene therapy shows promise for bladder cancer patients A breakthrough in bladder cancer treatment is offering new hope to patients.
Gen Z face job challenges, managers hesitant to hire grads More than 17 million Gen Z’ers are transitioning from school to creating a career. However, stepping into a job right after college is proving difficult for some.
Courtesy: Gov. Rick Scott BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. Gov. Rick Scott will announce state and local job statistics from January during a stop here on Monday. Scott will speak at 10 a.m. at the headquarters of Herc Rentals, an equipment rental firm at 27500 Riverview Center Blvd. The visit comes as Scott is locked in a battle with Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran, who’s leading a charge to kill the business-recruitment agency Enterprise Florida and revamp tourism-marketer Visit Florida. Corcoran on Friday got what he believes are more than symbolic votes toward that end, but Scott quickly returned fire by saying bipartisan House votes on two bills would harm Florida’s economy and slow job creation. Questions also remain about the issues in the Senate, where companion bills have not been filed and some leaders have expressed support for business-recruitment programs and tourism spending. Corcoran, however, downplayed those questions, as the 60-day annual legislative session finished its first week. “We’re dealing with the Legislature,” Corcoran told reporters. “To say on week one that a House priority, where we believe firmly we’re right on the policy, we’re right on the principle, doesn’t have life in the Senate, is not remotely in the ballpark of truth.” The House voted 87-28 on a proposal (HB 7005) that would abolish Enterprise Florida and a number of other economic development programs, such as the Office of Film & Entertainment and the Quick Action Closing Fund Program. The House also voted 80-35 to approve a separate measure (HB 9) that would overhaul the structure and contract-reporting requirements of Visit Florida. After the votes, Scott issued a release that agreed the agencies need to be more transparent, but he repeated his refrain that the House bills are “job killing legislation.” “Many politicians who voted for these bills say they are for jobs and tourism,” Scott said in the statement. “But, I want to be very clear — a vote for these bills was a vote to kill tourism and jobs in Florida.” Scott and Corcoran have butted heads for months over the future of the agencies, which the governor credits for contributing to state job growth and record increases in tourism. In his proposed 2017-2018 budget, Scott called for sending $85 million to Enterprise Florida for business incentives and $76 million to Visit Florida. Last year, lawmakers approved $78 million for Visit Florida but rejected Scott’s request for $250 million for Enterprise Florida. Corcoran has hammered such business incentives as “corporate welfare” and “de facto socialism” and has attributed the state’s tourism numbers to improvements in the economy and disposable income. Rep. Paul Renner, a Palm Coast Republican who sponsored both bills, said many of the jobs promised in exchange for past incentives have never materialized. “We also have a budgetary obligation, and I think the statement has been made today, by a wide margin, by Republicans and Democrats, that this is not where we should be spending other people’s money,” Renner said after Friday’s floor session. “There are better, higher uses for that money, whether it’s public safety, whether it’s quality education, or infrastructure.” On the House floor, Renner said the Visit Florida bill is intended to “rein in” the agency, which has been criticized by lawmakers for deals such as a controversial $1 million contract with Miami hip-hop artist Armando Christian Perez, better known as Pitbull. “This bill is about one thing and one thing only, it’s about accountability, and whether Visit Florida is willing to submit to some level of accountability,” Renner said. “We’re not here … to talk about other state agencies and this government, they haven’t been on the front page of the newspapers the way Visit Florida has.” In arguing against economic incentives tied to Enterprise Florida, Rep. Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, said the deals go against free-market philosophy and favor large corporations that have learned to work the system. But not every House Republican was convinced. Rep. Jay Fant, a Jacksonville Republican who voted against both bills, said he understands the philosophy behind abolishing Enterprise Florida and supports making internal changes. But he said the positives of the economic programs outweigh the criticism. “I fear killing this program will hurt people,” Fant said. “I will not be a part of this.” The proposal to eliminate Enterprise Florida would transfer existing deals and some programs to to the state Department of Economic Opportunity. For Visit Florida, the proposed changes would require the agency to post all contracts online; freeze agency employees’ benefits at current levels and prohibit bonuses; remove public-records exemptions from marketing and research projects; and require approval from the governor for all out-of-state and international travel. The changes also would require the Senate to confirm the governor’s appointment of the agency’s president and allow the Joint Legislative Budget Commission, House speaker or Senate president to reject contracts worth more than $750,000. The Visit Florida proposal would leave the question of the agency’s funding to budget negotiations between the House and Senate. Ken Lawson, who was named president and CEO of Visit Florida in January, said the agency has already moved to become more transparent, but the House proposal “unnecessarily grows government regulation.” “This bill jeopardizes the record-breaking success of Florida’s tourism industry and the 1.4 million jobs the industry supports,” Lawson said in a prepared statement. Information from The News Service of Florida was used in this report.